Palliative and End-of-Life Care for LGBT+ Cancer Patients: Scoping the Problems and Identifying the Solutions

People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) face inequalities in healthcare and are receiving less palliative and end-of-life care than others with a comparable need. Since the global resolution to improve palliative care made by the World Health Assembly, the World Health Organization, and member states, some progress has been made. However, LGBT+ people are discriminated and marginalized, which leads to suboptimal palliative care. Research on the needs of LGBT+ people and their access to palliative care is limited. Therefore, the aim of this discussion article is to scope unique problems around palliative and end-of-life care for LGBT+ people and identify possible solutions to address these problems with direct links to nursing practice.

Journal articles and author experience were used for this discussion article.

Oncology nurses need to be educated in communication skills, specific assessment tools, and awareness of the history of LGBT+ people. Increasing knowledge for cancer nurses is pivotal because this affects their views, needs, and perceptions in providing palliative and end-of-life care.

Oncology nurses have a pivotal role in caring for all cancer patients at the end of their life. LGBT+ patients and their caregivers need competent nurses to support them, especially during transitions. Implementing LGBT+-inclusive education, training, and practice will improve outcomes for LGBT cancer patients and their caregivers, and potentially all patients. More research is needed to implement such training in nursing education. ("LGBT+" has been used throughout the article. There are many arguments in favor of using different variations of the acronym, but for purposes of understanding and ease, LGBT+ is the acronym of choice here.).